illicit

[ih-lis-it]

adjective

1. not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.

   Synonyms: prohibited, illegitimate

2. disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.

illicit

/ ɪˈlɪsɪt /

adjective

1. another word for illegal

2. not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard

   illicit sexual relations

Other Word Forms

• illicitly adverb
• illicitness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illicit¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin illicitus, equivalent to il- ² + licit ( def. )

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

A U.A.E. official said the country is committed to preventing misuse of its territory for illicit finance and was working with international partners to disrupt and deter it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rachel Reeves said the government would be undertaking "additional enforcement activity on High Streets, focusing on illicit tobacco and vaping products", which would involve deploying 350 newly-recruited criminal investigators part of the fraud investigation team.

Read more on BBC

His clients, he said, are innocent and there were no illicit materials on their electronics.

Read more on Salon

That would seem to point to Mexico, the major land corridor for illicit drugs destined for the U.S. market.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But such measures often trigger unintended consequences - from thriving black markets and deaths from illicit brews, to enforcement challenges that drain state resources.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adulterous 
• bootleg 
• clandestine 
• contraband 
• furtive 
• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• immoral 
• improper 
• prohibited 
• unauthorized 
• unlawful 
• unlicensed 
• wrongful